Child Injured By Dog

BERLIN — A local child was severely injured last weekend when attacked by a chained dog in Berlin.

Last Saturday afternoon, Berlin Police responded to a residence on N. Main Street for a reported animal bite. Responding officers discovered an 11-year-old boy had been playing with a chained pit bull dog when the dog bit the child in the face. The child sustained severe facial injuries, according to police reports.

Worcester County Animal Control was requested to respond and took possession of the dog. The child was taken by Berlin EMS first to PRMC in Salisbury and was later flown to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Arrest After Berlin Melee

BERLIN — A local man was arrested on disorderly conduct charges last week for his role in a large fight in Berlin during which police had to use pepper spray to disperse the crowd.

On Oct. 14, Berlin Police, with assistance from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police and Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP), responded to a large fight at the multi-purpose building on Flower Street in Berlin. Upon arrival, officers observed a large fight in progress involving at least 20 combatants.

Officers were able to break up that fight with several individuals leaving the area. A short time later, officers responded to another fight near an apartment complex in Berlin. Police encountered a large group fighting outside one of the apartments and this time were forced to use pepper spray to disperse the combatants.

One man, identified as Lavar J. Ayres, 33, of Berlin, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. Ayres was accused of causing a disturbance and failing to leave the area after being ordered to do so. He was released on a criminal citation.

Armed Home Invasion
Suspects Sought

SALISBURY — Salisbury Police this week are looking for two suspects wanted in connection with a home invasion on Cedar Crossing early Tuesday morning.

Around 12:53 a.m. on Tuesday, Salisbury Police responded to a residence on Cedar Crossing for a reported home invasion. The investigation revealed two suspects entered the residence with a weapon and stole property from the victims. The suspects then demanded the keys to the victims’ vehicle and utilized the vehicle to flee from the scene.

The victims’ vehicle was located several hours later unattended in the area of Adams Ave. During the incident, the victims were not injured. The suspects are described as African-American males, roughly late teens or early 20s wearing dark clothing with hooded shirts and red and white bandanas over their wrist areas. They were armed with a handgun. Anyone with information is urged to contact Salisbury Police at 410-548-3165, or Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.

Shots Fired In Salisbury

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on numerous weapons and other charges last week after allegedly firing a weapon on the street corner and later ducking into a nearby business to avoid police.

Around 8:25 p.m. last Friday, Salisbury Police responded to the area of E. Isabella Street for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, Salisbury Police observed several individuals standing on the street corner. One of the individuals, later identified as Tabari Asha McCready, 31, of Salisbury, walked away from the group and into a nearby business to avoid the officers.

The officers made contact with McCready inside the business and were interviewing him when they heard a loud noise and observed a handgun lying on the floor beneath McCready’s pants leg. McCready was arrested and charged with wearing and carrying a handgun, concealed dangerous weapon, possession of a regulated firearm after being convicted of a crime of violence and disorderly conduct.

Assault, Arson Charges

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on numerous charges last weekend after first attempting to stab a female victim and later threatening to burn down her house.

Last Sunday, Salisbury Police arrested Johnny Tyrone Howard, 49, of Salisbury on numerous charges including first-degree assault and threat of arson after locating him on an outstanding warrant. According to police reports, Howard attempted to stab a female victim with a knife when the victim’s friends interceded on her behalf. Howard then punched the male individual in the face and told the group he was going to throw a cocktail bomb into their house, causing it to burn down.

Howard was charged with threat of arson, possession of a dangerous weapon, first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment.

Burglar Sentenced

SNOW HILL — One of three men arrested on burglary and other charges in May after county law enforcement officials were able to connect them to a spree of burglaries in the south end of Worcester pleaded guilty last week to first-degree burglary and was sentenced to five years in jail.

On May 18, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a residence on Brantley Rd. in Pocomoke for a reported burglary in progress. The victim was able to provide a description of a “beat up” gold Honda four-door with a huge scratch across the back bumper occupied by two African-American males. The deputy observed a vehicle matching the description heading north on Route 113.

When the deputy made a U-turn to pursue, the vehicle sped up in an attempt to elude the officer before making a quick turn into a residential driveway. The suspects attempted to exit the vehicle and flee, but were ordered to get back in and wait for additional units to arrive to assist.

The victim was brought to the scene and positively identified the vehicle and the two African-American males, Brian Waters, 30, of Bivalve and Marco Lee, 32, of Quantico. Also in the vehicle was a third suspect identified as Zachary Manley, 24, of Saylorsburg, Pa. The victim also identified personal property recovered from one of the suspects. The three suspects were taken in for interrogation.

A search warrant was obtained for the vehicle and the subsequent search turned up property belonging to the initial victim. Also discovered during the search was a large amount of jewelry, electronics, baseball cards, coins and other valuables. In the trunk of the vehicle, officers discovered three pairs of gloves and burglary tools.

A check with area pawn shops revealed Manley had pawned a large amount of jewelry on the day before, May 17. Detailed descriptions and photographs of the pawned jewelry resulted in the positive identification of items stolen from a separate burglary on Brantley Rd. from the night before. On Saturday, May 19, a sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to another reported burglary on Brantley Rd. and was able to determine the incident was similar to the other reported burglaries. Detectives were able to determine the property reported stolen had been recovered during the search of the Honda a day earlier. Each of the three suspects was charged with burglary, theft and malicious destruction of property.

Last week in Circuit Court, Manley pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and was sentenced to five years in jail. He was also ordered to pay his share of restitution to the victims. Last week, Lee was found guilty of first-degree burglary and was sentenced to 10 years in jail, all but five of which was then suspended. Waters’ case has not yet been tried.

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